Vacuum dispensing apparatus



H. Nl., A. D. AND G. B. NICHOLSON AND W. T. LUW'REY.

VACUUM DISPENSING APPAHAUS. APFLICATXON FILED FEB. 23. 1918.RENEWEDjUNE16.l919.

W. TLowre/g other volatile and explosive oils.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD M. NICHOLSON, ARTHUR D. NIHCLSON, GEORGE B. NICHOLSON, ANDWILLIAM T 'LOWERY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent'. A Patented Jan, 6, 1920,`

Application filed February 2,3, 19,18, Serial No. 218,858. Renewed June16, 1919. Serial No. 304,740.

Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvementsin Vacuum Dispensing Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a speoiication.

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and it has for its objectto provide an improved apparatus for dispensing fuel orv lubricatingoils Jfor the use of motorists.

The apparatus is particularly designed for the purpose of dispensinggasolene and Because of the strict fire regulations in some cities it isundersirable toplace the main containing tanks of oils of thisnatureunder air pressure. To avoid the necessity of putting the maincontaining tanks under pressure and at the same time to avoid theemployment of a pump and the annoyance arising from the necessity ofstarting 'the same whenever gosolene is to be dispensed, we propose toutilize the ordinary city water supply in conjunction with a novel typeof vacuum creating means which will automatically act to create a vacuumin the dispensing chamber and cause the gasolene to flow thereinto.

Further Objects and advantages of the invention will be set .forth inthe detailed description which now follows. A

In the accompanying drawing;

Figure 1 is a view partly-in. section yand. partly in side elevation ofa dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention andl Fig. 2is a detail sectional view of a two way valve employed inconjunction therewith.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in both of the'gures of thedrawing.

' The apparatus lcomprises a hollow pedestal 5 adapted to be located atthe curb line and a superposed dispensing chamber comprising a glasscylinder 6 graduated as at. 7 to indicate the number of gallons, a lowerhead 8 and an upper head 9 these heads being drawn together by bolts 10.A light containing dome 11 which may contain an incandescent bulbindicated at 12 is mounted upon the top of the head 9, this dome notonly serving to indicate the location of receptacle 6 from afar, but, inconjunction with the light 12 serving as a means for illuminating theinterior of the rece tacle 6, 1t being understood that the light willshine downwardly through the top 9 which is open at 9a.` A dischargenec-k 13 is provided with a rcontrolling valve 14 and carries a iexiblevhose 15 adapted to discharge the contents of the dispensing receptacle 6into the tank of an automobile. A main reservoir vor container 16 islocated below the v'side-walk 17 and is provided with a filling pipe 18.A discharge pipe 19 leads from the containerl 16 to thebot'tom of thereceptacle 6 and a check valve 20 permits the passage of the gasolene orother fuel oil into the re` eeptacle 6 but prevents return movement ofsuch oil. A vacuum or suction pipe 21 leads from the upper part of thereceptacle 6 to the top ofa tank 22. A water supply-pi 23 from a citywater supply line leads to t e tank'22. A float 24 controls a valve25 ofa usual and well known construction such as are employed in closetflushing tanks wherein the valve is automatically shut oi` after thefloat 24 has reached a predetermined height. A discharge line 26 to asewer (not si the tank 22 and a ball valve 27 closes the entrance tothis pipe. Guides 28 insure the proper movement of the valve27. The stem29 ofthe valve 2 7 passes through thellever 30 which connects the float24 with the valve 25 and the stem29is provided with a collar 31 abovethe lever 30. When the float is raised by the inlowing water .to such apoown) leads to the bottom of sition that it contacts with the collar 31the ball 27 will be lifted from its seat. During the upwardmovementof'the water the air out through an outwardly opening check`-valve 32. Consequently when the ball valve 27 is lifted from its seatthewater will not immediately flow into the pipe 26 because of the lack ofair thereabove. Itis to be underv stood that the ball valve 27 is of thetype employed in closet iushing tanks. That is,

it is of a type which is held seated after once becoming seated, by thepressure of the water thereon, but when once released from its seat isheld in an elevated position by its buoyancy until practically all ofthe wateris discharged from the tank. l

Disposed within the length of the vacuum A .a5l contained within thetankl 22 will be driven yzo pipe 21 is a two way valve 33 (see Fig. 2).This valve comprises a plug 34 which, when turned to one position,establishes communication straight through the pipe 21 and when turnedto anotner position establishes communication between the interior ofthe receptacle 6 and theatmosphere through a port 35.

If, with the tank iilled with water to a position where the float 24 haslifted the valve 27 from its seat, the valve 33 be manipulated toestablish communication between the receptacle 6 and the tank 22, airfrom the interior of the receptacle 6 (which it will be understood is afluid tight receptacle) passes through the pipe 21 and immediately thewater begins to flow through the pipe 26 to the sewer. The continueddownward movement of this water creating a vacuum in tank 22 and,through pipe 21, in the re-l ceptacle 6 causes the gasolene from thestorage tank 16 to flow upwardly through pipe 19 until the desiredamount as indicated by the graduations 7 has entered the receptacle 6.Thereupon the two way valve 33 is moved to establish communicationbetween the atmosphere and the interior of the receptacle 6, whereuponthe contents of this receptacle will be discharged through the eX-tension 13 and pipe 15 if the valve 14 be open, it being apparent thatthe gasolene cannot flow back into the storage. tank 16 because of 'thecheck valve 20.-

After all of the water has been discharged from the tank '22 the valve27 will seat and then the tank 22 will again iill with water preparatoryto repeating the operation Whenever the operator sees fit to manipulatevalve 33 to establish communication through the vacuum pipe 21 betweenthe interior of receptacle 6 and the said tank 22.

It desired a pipe 36 Vmay be disposed in position to'conduct the.airdischarged from tank 22 during the upward movement. of the watertherein, to a remote point, as for example, above and outside of thebuilding in which the tank is located, in order to avoid the possibilityof discharging carbureted or explosive vapors within the building.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the means hereinshown and described will provide for the dispensing of gasolene with aminimum of annoyance and expense. The pressure of the city water supplyVis utilized to place in position a body of water ready to act in thecreation oi the necessary vacuum whenever the valve 33 is opened and 'itisto be noted that this preparatory step is taken prior to the openingof the valve. Consequently when the valve is open the response of theapparatus is instantaneous and gasolene may be served to waitingcustomers in a minimum time. ln short, during the time that the gasoleneis being discharged from the receptacle 6 into the waiting automobilethe tank 22 will be filling to provide'a considerable volume of waterready to rush into the sewer under gravity and to thereby quickly createthe necessary vacuum. to supply the gasolene for the neXt car, which maybe waiting.

' lt is to be understood that the invention cle, of a storagereceptacle, a connection" therebetween, a check valve in saidconnection, a vacuum creating tank, a source of water supply underpressure leading thereto, an outlet therefrom2 the movement of the waterfrom the tank acting to create a vacuum therein, a connection betweenthe vacuum tank and the dispensing receptacle, a controlling valve inthe last named connection for establishing communication between thevacuum creating tank and the dispensing receptacle, means for admittingair to the interior of the dispensing receptacle and from saidreceptacle to the tank, and a discharge pipe leading from the dispensingreceptacle.

2'. A system of the character described comprising a storage receptacle,a dispensing receptacle, a connection therebetween, a check valve insaid connection, a vacuum creating tank, a source of water supplyleading thereto, a sewer connection leadingy therefrom, a iioat valvecontrolling said sewer connection, a float controlling the passage ofwater to the interior of the vacuum creating tank, means for causing thelast named float'to actuate the iioat valve after a predetermined upwardmovement oi' the Hoat, an outwardly opening check valve for permittingthe passage of air from the vacuum creating tank during the upwardmovement of the water therein, a connection between the vacuum creatingtank and the dispensing receptacle and a two way valve in said pipe,said two way valve when moved to one position establishing communicationbetween the vacuum creating tank and the dispensing receptacle and whenmoved to another position establishing communication between thedispensing receptacle and the atmosphere. i

3. ln combination a storage tank, a dispensing receptacle, a dischargepipe leading from the dispensing receptacle, a pipe establishingcommunication between the storage tank and the dispensing receptacle, acheck valve in the last named pipe, a vacuum creating tank, a source ofwater supply leading thereto, a valve for controlling the passage ofwater f'nom the source of water supply te i se the interior of the tank,a float for controlling said Valve, a lever connecting said float withsaid valve, a sewer connection leading from said vacuum Creating tank, aball valve for controllingthe entrance to said sewer connection, a stemcarried by said ball valve and an element carried by said stem withwhich the lever of the float engages to there-Vv by elevate the ballValve upon upward movement of the float and an outwardly opening 10 chekvalve carried by the vacuum creating tan In testimony whereof we affixour signatures.

' HOWARD M. NICHOLSON. ARTHUR D. NICHOLSON. GEORGE B. NICHOLSON. WILLIAMT. LOWERY.

